Home is where you make it
Posted on Fri Aug 14th, 2026 @ 2:33pm by Lieutenant Kah’lyn Chiara & Lieutenant Commander Xalanth
Edited on on Fri Aug 14th, 2026 @ 3:52pm
1,891 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Side Plots
Location: Xalanth’s Quarters
Timeline: First evening after moving in.
Kah’lyn sat on her bed looking around at the little piece of home she’d made for herself in Xalanth’s family quarters. She felt odd living with a family she barely knew, but then she’d been made very welcome and she appreciated it. Not wanting to be rude she decided to join the family, there was a delicious scent coming from the living area and she was wondering what was being cooked.
The sound of a happy family life filled her ears as she entered the central area. T'para, Leilian and Fulvia sat on the couch with several of the girls doing what the various ages of girls do. Reading, playing on some handheld devices, or doing homework.
Xalanth and his eldest were in the kitchen working on whatever was for dinner. " Settling in well Kah'lyn?" Xalanth said as he looked up from the mixing bowl he was helping Yazar with.
“Yes, thank you Xalanth” Kah’lyn replied with a warm smile. “Is there anything I can do to help?”'
"Bowls, plates and cutlery need putting out. " Xalanth said, gesturing with his head to a drawer and a cupboard.
" Be careful, the knives are rather sharp." Yazar added as she ploped the pastry she was working on down on the work surface and began to roll it out.
“I’ll be careful, thank you for the warning” Kah’lyn offered Yazar a warm smile then headed over to the cupboard to get everything. She started with the plates and bowls taking them over to the table, before returning for the cutlery. Carefully handling the sharp knives she set out the table ready for all its occupants.
Xalanth smiled as he picked up a soup pot and carried it over to the table before sliding it in to a slot in it's center. Seeing Kah'lyn had noted the two chairs tilted forward on the table, he explained. " There for Zola and Cemet for when they return to be with us. . "
Kah’lyn nodded. “Has it been long since they were last with you?”
" Since we all graduated. " T'para added from the couch, which she rose from to help with the dinner. " We stayed together, yet someone in the fleet had her assigned to one of the deep space exploration ships. They are on their way back though" she added, smiling as she nudged Xalanth slightly. You could tell from her voice she cared for her sister wife.
“It’s obvious you all care deeply for one another, I consider myself very lucky to be sharing in your family life.” Kah’lyn smiled. “I wish I had the same, I’d like to have children one day I just have to find the elusive Mr Right.”
" I'm sure you'll find him." Xalanth said as he began ladeling out the stew into the bowls as the family began to gather around the table.
“Your stew smells wonderful” Kah’lyn added as she waited to see who sat where before she took an empty seat. “You’re quite the accomplished chef.”
" Dragonians are all required to learn how to cook, and i do always find fresh food tastes better than the replicator. " The lizard replied as he began giving everyone a big ladleful of the meat and veg stew.
“It’s an excellent family value and skill to have, so many simply rely on the replicators. I tend to use the replicator when I’m too tired to cook, but I do enjoy cookery.” Kah’lyn added as she nodded her thanks for the stew, waiting for everyone to start.
Xalanth finished his ladeling and returned to his seat at the table. Reaching out, he took the hands of T'para and Leilani, who sat either side of him as everyone around the table. " Would you join us in grace Kah'lyn?" Xalanth asked politely.
“Of course” Kah’lyn nodded offering a warm smile.
Fulvia offered her hand to Kah'lyn as Xalanth began. " Ancestors of the night and fire. Bless us with this food and the strength to move forward. Be at our side when needed and the side of our friends. Till all return. " he said before releasing his mates hands.
Kah’lyn smiled warmly waiting for everyone else to start their food. “While I’m here I’d like to learn everything there is to know about your people, customs, and basically everything. I like to learn.”
"Of course, and i'll help with as much as i know. My people are still rather divided by most federation standards. The oath i just gave for example, is from my tribes primary religion. We believe that long ago the cruel old ones created the galaxy. Being such evil creatures, they spawned life to force them to fight each other. One day, they created two known as fire and night. Only fire and night didn't fight. Enchanted by the beauty and strength of each other, they downed their weapons and talked. For a thousand years, they talked in a pool of their own sorrow at the pain of being unable to hold the other. Till one day their pain coated them like scales, and at last they could hold each other. From their coupling came the first dragonian."
Xalanth paused to take a drink before he continued.
" The old ones were furious as they believed only they could create life. In their anger, they brought down all their might on the first dragonian, leaving fire and night with only one choice. They split their child into nine souls and scattered them into the deserts of our home. A furnace to mould us for our battle against the old ones. One day fire and night will call us back to them rise all the fallen dragonians from ages past into an army to finally defeat the old ones. "
“Wow, that is amazing.” Kah’lyn added genuinely enthralled at learning all about Xalanth’s people’s beliefs. “So each dragonian finds those nine pieces to be at his or her side for the time of that possible return.”
" Well, eight, including themselves." Xalanth grinned, looking at his three mates and the empty chair.
" I'm sure it has nothing to do with the birth ratio of the dragonia deserts being one male to eight females. " T'para added with a grin of her own.
Kah’lyn grinned. “Well that’s quite an offset, so how do you know which females? Is it purely based on love, or something more?”
" You just seem to know," The red lizard replied honestly. " I was a first-year cadet helping out with security at one of the med tents after the Terra First riots. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and a beautiful woman with bright blue eyes was offering me a water bottle. I knew she was first right then and there. It was such a pity that i was such a coward that i couldn't tell her i loved her for half a year."
T'para seemed to blush at that, clearly indicating who the woman was. " I somehow knew we were destined to be together, but didn't have the courage to say so for half a year. I didn't think love at first sight was a thing, until i saw him. Then there were the dreams we both seemd to have.... "
“You both had the same dreams?” Kah’lyn asked curiously. “May I ask what about?”
" Maybe later when there aren't so many little ears around?" T'para replied with a slight embarrassing blush on her face as she looked at the children around the table.
“Ohh I see” Kah’lyn grinned. “Better left unsaid.”
T'para nodded as the family continued their meal. After the stew Xalanth and Yazar brought over a pie the young hybrid had been working on. Following that, a selection of cakes and sweet treats.
As the family finished, Xalanth began collecting the dishes for cleaning. T'para joined him, anyone being able to see the love between the two souls from different worlds yet whom belong to each other.
Kah’lyn was happy to entertain the children while their parents were busy, she loved kids and always enjoyed being with them. She picked up a book happy to read and entertain.
After around half an hour, it was time to get the children to bed, so Xalanth gently rounded them all up and off to their rooms. It was time for his most important job as a dad: telling the girls their bedtime story.
T'para, Leiliani and Fulvia smiled as the small hybrids followed their father, the love in their eyes being unmistakable.
As they left T'para turned to Kah'lyn. " So do you still want to know about the dreams?" she enquired.
“If it’s not intruding on anything too private” Kah’lyn nodded. “I have to admit I’m curious.”
" We have no secrets here." T'para said, gesturing to her sister wives, who both nodded. " I know they're all different, and I've run brain scans that have found nothing, but after having one, you just know that you're bonded, and a dragonian mating bond is for life.
I had mine when we were back at the academy. The big guy and I had finally admitted we loved each other, and we'd just handed over the medical forms to see if we were compatible. I found myself swimming in what felt like a deep ocean cave, but everything felt denser, and I somehow knew I could breathe. I could hear beautiful singing coming from a tunnel, which i followed. I noticed i had twenty lights following me, yet they seemed oddly familiar. Then the tunnel ended at a beautiful-looking temple with a alter with an Ankh carved into it's surafce. Swimming around it was Xalanth. We were drawn to each other and well....." The look the hybrid gave was a rather fitting explanation for what had happened.
" I thought it was just a very erotic dream until after i met up with the red guy and told him about it. He had the exact same dream, even vague details we both knew. One thing led to another, and we both ended up with a blemish on our recored that night." She added, smiling as did so.
Kah’lyn listened without interruption. “It’s like you had a true bond before you were actually bonded, you’re all so lucky to have such a wonderful relationship with Xalanth and each other.”
"According to our lord and husband, we are just one soul in many bodies. " Fulvia added with a smile of her own.
“Well I feel very special to currently be part of your family.” Kah’lyn smiled warmly. “You’ve made me feel well and truly welcome and at home.”
" We're happy to have you until this whole mess is cleaned up," Leilani said with her own smile.
“Hopefully that’ll be be sooner rather than later, but in the meantime I’ll integrate here and help out however I can.” She smiled warmly.
Lt. Commander Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Kah'lyn Chiara
Chief Counselor
USS Astrea
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